When does a mantra become a tic?

I was thinking about acceptance.

Is it a commendation or a condemnation that I accept things as well as I do?

Those lead aprons that the dentists wrap you in before they x-ray you...they protect you from harm, but they do feel so heavy on your chest. Acceptance is the same to me.

My mantra seems always to be: It doesn't matter anyway.

And then I smile.

Because acceptance is the thing to do, isn't it?

I mutter over and over: It doesn't matter anyway. It doesn't matter anyway.

Who's to say.